Display panel and display device

Abstract

A display panel and a display device, such as an organic light emitting panel that includes a spacer. The display panel and the display device include a semiconductor element including a first electrode; a passivation layer arranged on the semiconductor element and including a via hole exposing the first electrode; a second electrode arranged on the passivation layer and connected to the first electrode through the via hole; and a spacer arranged on the second electrode and adjacent to the via hole, wherein the spacer exposes at least a portion of a region where the via hole is formed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device, comprising:
 a semiconductor element including a first electrode; 
 a passivation layer arranged on the semiconductor element and including a via hole exposing the first electrode; 
 a second electrode arranged on the passivation layer and connected to the first electrode through the via hole; and 
 a spacer arranged on the second electrode and adjacent to the via hole, wherein the spacer exposes at least a portion of a region where the via hole is arranged. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes a first edge side surface overlapping the region where the via hole is arranged. 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 2 , further comprising a pixel definition layer arranged on the second electrode and including a first opening exposing the second electrode. 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the pixel definition layer covers the via hole. 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 4 , wherein the spacer is arranged on the pixel definition layer. 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the pixel definition layer further includes a second opening arranged adjacent to the via hole. 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 4 , wherein the spacer and the pixel definition layer are comprised of a same material. 
     
     
       8. The display device of  claim 2 , wherein the first edge side surface of the spacer overlaps a plurality of the via holes. 
     
     
       9. The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third electrode arranged on the pixel definition layer and the spacer. 
     
     
       10. The display device of  claim 2 , further comprising a pixel definition layer arranged on the second electrode, covering the via hole, and being comprised of a same material as the spacer, the first edge side surface to prevent external light from being diffused and distorted by a concave shape of the second electrode arranged within the via hole. 
     
     
       11. The display device of  claim 1 , the spacer being comprised of an optically transparent and electrically insulating material. 
     
     
       12. The display device of  claim 2 , the semiconductor element being arranged on a substrate, the first edge side surface of the spacer forming an angle with a surface of the substrate that is larger than about 10 degrees and is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The display device of  claim 2 , the first edge side surface being spaced apart from the via hole by a distance less than a width of the via hole. 
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 2 , the first edge side surface overlapping the via hole to prevent the via hole from producing optical distortions and stains from external light by preventing a concave shape of the via hole from transferring and being present on an outer surface of the display device and preventing the external light from being diffused and reflected by the concave shape of the via hole. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 6 , wherein a combination of the second opening being adjacent to the via hole and the first edge side surface overlapping the via hole to prevent the via hole from producing optical distortions and stains from external light by preventing a concave shape of the via hole from transferring and being present on an outer surface of the display device and preventing the external light from being diffused and reflected by the concave shape of the via hole. 
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 3 , the spacer and the pixel defining layer each being comprised of a same material selected from a group consisting of photoresist, polyacrylate-based resin, polyimide-based resin, acryl-based resin, silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 3 , the spacer being a portion of the pixel defining layer having a second and greater thickness than a remaining portion of the pixel defining layer external to the first opening having a first and lesser thickness. 
     
     
       18. A display device, comprising:
 an insulating substrate; 
 a semiconductor element arranged on the substrate; 
 a first electrode arranged on the semiconductor element; 
 a passivation layer arranged on the semiconductor element and being perforated by a via hole exposing the first electrode; 
 a second electrode arranged on the passivation layer and connected to the first electrode through the via hole; and 
 a pixel defining layer arranged on the second electrode and on the passivation layer, the pixel defining layer being perforated by a first opening exposing a portion of the second electrode, the pixel defining layer having a first portion external to the first opening and having a first thickness and corresponding to at least a portion of the via hole, the pixel defining layer also including a second portion having a second and greater thickness and a first edge side surface connecting the first and second portions. 
 
     
     
       19. The display device of  claim 18 , the pixel defining layer being comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of photoresist, polyacrylate-based resin, polyimide-based resin, acryl-based resin, silicon dioxide and silicon nitride, the first edge side surface forming an angle with a surface of the substrate that is larger than about 10 degrees and is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       20. The display device of  claim 18 , the second electrode being arranged within the via hole and forming a concave surface with respect to a front surface of the display device, the first edge side surface of the pixel defining layer to prevent external light from being distorted by the second electrode within the via hole and to prevent external light from reflecting off of the concave surface of the second electrode within the via hole.